Absorbent underwear, worked out properly

This is the category people avoid reading about and then wish they had. It is also the one where a bit of arithmetic saves real money.

Absorbency, in millilitres

Most brands label absorbency with words — light, moderate, super, overnight — and the words mean different things to different manufacturers. What is comparable is millilitres.

A rough map of where the reusable market sits:

• Moisture-wicking — 0ml. No absorbency at all. Sold for comfort and dryness against the skin, not for leaks. Genuinely useful if your issue is night sweats rather than fluid, and frequently bought by mistake by people who needed something else.
• Light — up to about 20ml
• Moderate — up to about 30ml
• Super / heavy — up to about 50ml

Disposable pull-on pants generally hold considerably more than any of these, which is why overnight is where disposables still win for a lot of people.

The practical advice: most people need different levels day and night, and almost nobody guesses right first time. If you are starting out, a disposable duo pack answers the question in a week for a few pounds. Then buy reusable at the level you now know you need, rather than the level you hoped you needed.

Sizing

Two things go wrong here.

First: reusable underwear is generally sized on body measurements, not garment measurements, and not on the dress size you buy elsewhere. Measure your waist at the narrowest point below the ribs, and your hips at the fullest part, and use those numbers against the specific brand's chart. Brands differ by a full size.

Second: fit is not a comfort question in this category, it is a performance question. The absorbent panel only works if the gusset sits flush. Too big and it gapes; too small and it pulls the panel out of position. A pair that is slightly loose will leak even though the absorbency is right.

Note too that size ranges are uneven — the classic cuts often run to a UK 26, while seamless lines can stop at a 16 or 18. If you are outside a middle size range, check before you fall in love with a style.

Reusable versus disposable, honestly

Reusable wins on cost over a year. Three or four pairs rotated through the wash against a box of disposables every fortnight is not a close contest. It is also the only option that does not put anything in a bin.

Disposable wins on effort, capacity and travel. No laundry, higher absorbency, and nothing to carry home.

Care matters more than people expect. Rinse cold before the first wear, cold machine wash after each wear, line dry. No fabric softener — it coats the absorbent layer and is the single most common reason a pair stops working. No tumble drying, no ironing, no bleach. Expect a working life measured in a year or two, not forever.

The VAT rule nobody mentions

This is the part worth reading twice, because it is money.

In the UK there are two separate zero rates that can apply to this kind of underwear, and they run on opposite tests.

Incontinence relief. Products designed for use by an incontinent person — including waterproof or leak-proof underwear — are zero-rated when supplied to that person for their personal use. Usefully, retailers apply this on the shelf: you do not normally have to fill in a declaration to get it. A declaration or other evidence only comes into play above certain quantities in a single purchase — for leak-proof underwear, above ten pairs.

Period products. A separate zero rate covers products designed and marketed solely for menstrual flow. Reusable period pants were brought into it on 1 January 2024 — later than the rest of the category, which was zero-rated from January 2021.

And here is the trap. The period products rate specifically excludes dual-purpose products designed to protect against both menstrual flow and incontinence. So a pair of pants marketed as being for periods and bladder leaks may fall between the two reliefs and end up standard-rated at 20%.

Which means the description on the product page can decide the price you pay. It is a slightly absurd situation and it is the current state of the rules. If you are buying specifically for bladder leaks, buy something described for that purpose — you are more likely to get the relief.

We are a shop, not your accountant, and VAT relief depends on your own circumstances. HMRC's notice on reliefs for disabled and older people sets out the detail if you want to check it yourself.

The bit worth saying plainly

Bladder leaks in midlife are common, they are not something you have to manage alone, and they are frequently treatable. Pelvic floor physiotherapy has a real evidence base behind it and is available on the NHS — your GP can refer you.

Absorbent underwear is a good answer to the practical problem of getting through your day. It is not the only answer available to you, and a shop that sells it should probably be the first to say so.

General information, not medical advice. If bladder leaks are new, worsening, or affecting your life, speak to your GP.